Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-06-03

A Mysterious Shot.

Mysterious SnOt.
During Bragg's occupation OF Mission
Ridge and Lookout Mountain | was con-
nected with the army OF the Tennessee as
scout. and in seeking to re-enter the
city after trip lasting four days, was
captured or the Sossville road about three
miles from Snodgrass hill. around which
the battle of Chickamauga ragged so
fiercely. The whole country was full of
rebel soldiers, scouts, and bushwhackerS,
and was moving through the woods with
the utmost care, thinking to get as near
to our lines as possible before dark, when
a man in butternut clothes suddenly
stepped out in front of me from behind a
large tree, lifted a shotgun to aim and
called out:
Island right thar, or III blow the top
of yer head off,
was more than scout was spy.
That is, was in semi rebel uniform and
within the enemy's lines. and any drum
head, court would sentence me to
death. was not altogether prepared for
the meeting, having realized the probabili-
ty, and as the gun covered me answered
the man in what tried to make steady
voice:
IF it's all the same to you prefer to
sit down, for Pm clean beat out with hard
work"
sat down on log and looked up at
him. He was man about 40 years of
age, tall, gaunt. and fierce looking, and
from the cut of his clothes took him to
be member OF some predatory rebel
band which had been called in for the time
being and assigned with the regular troops
He might, no xever, have been a regular
scout, or bushwacker. working on his
own hook. Atthis point we were between
the rebel front and the pickets and out
posts, and in very thick wood. The
time was o'clock in the afternoon.
AS sat down the man lowered his gun
and stood leaning on it for minute while
he surveyed me. Then | noticed that he
had been drinking, and was what is termed
ugly drunk. His eyes we're bloodshot. his
face covered with scowls, and it was plain
enough that he was ripe for murder.
who be YOU" he demanded in gruff
voice.
John Thomas, scout for General
Bragg. Who are you?'
80 you know General Bragg, ehP"
Certainly"
$50 do I. Purity good man, ehP"
'Yes. Who are you?"
"None of yer d. business - he ex-
claimed, after regarding me for full half
minute.
"Well, I don t care. What are you do
ing here in the woodsP"
$50 you know General Bragg, eh ?" he
querried, coming little closer.
II told you / did. Pm going to his
headquarters now"
"Oh, you be? Mebbe you'd be so kind
as to pint out whar them headquarters
are P''
II would if could. but haven't found
'em vet"
ii thought so! And so you know the
general by sightp"
II do"
"Mebbe you'd be so kind and conde-
scendin' as to describe him to mer'
He bad me there. | had never heard
the generals looks passed upon. and |
realized thst the chances were not one in
twenty that could hit him
"Well, l am waiting" growled the
man, after moment.
"Oh, you are" sneered. changing my
to know all about you. I've been think
ing you might be a Yankee spy. ought
to take you back to the lines"
HE, he he!" chuckled the fellow, as
he leered at me. Say Yank. you amt
half smart I knowed you on sight and
your voice give you away"
Don't Yank me-" exclaimed. "You
come along to the picket post and I'll find
out who you are"
started TO rise up, but he lifted his
gun to his face and growled along the
barrel:
You've got list so seconds to live and
you'd better do some tall prayingn'
He meant murder. could see it in
his eyes and read it in his face. Whether
he really took me for Yankee spy, or
whether he wanted to kill me out of pure
eussedness and tor the sake of plumber,
knew not, but he certainly meant to kill.
He had my head covered with his aim.
finger on the trigger. and was apparently
counting off the seconds allowed me, when
he suddenly Strengthened up, dropped his
gun, threw up his hands, and fell forward
at my feet. As he was falling, I heard
the report of q gun not far away, and 1
knew that the man had been shot. l
sprang up and took refuge behind . large
tree, and though I waited and watched
for halt IN hour no one appeared. nor
could detect . movement. crept on
hands and knees to the sti6euing corpse